Bob-sled.



ELLAMBERT.

BOB SLED.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.10.1916.

Patented Oct. 3

2 'SHEETS- HEET I.

5/ Witnesses E. LAMBERT.

v 808 SLED.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.'I0, 1916.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M W 'Ja If J "27 29 33 27 2 z 7 R1 y 24,

Witnesses v nventor 7817mm y ,1 Q

Attorneys EDWARD LAMBERT, 0F ALTONA, NEW YORK.

BOB-SLED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Application filed March 10, 1916. Serial No. 83,367.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD LAMBERT, a

citizen of the United States,'1*esidi1ig at,

Altona, in the county of Clinton and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Bob-Sled, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to bobsleds, and aims to improve the construction thereof, whereby to enhance the strength, safety and durability, there being no liability of the parts being wrenched, split, broken or otherwise impaired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bobsled wherein the runners can oscillate relatively to one another, and whereby there is a freedom of movement between the runners, in order thatv the runners can pass over obstructions or through depressions, without disturbing the equilibrium of the sled as a whole.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a sled having the characteristics above noted which is not complicated in construction, and which on the other hand is comparatively simple and cheap to manufacture, as 1 well as being practical and etiicient in use.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved structure, a portion of the tongue being broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section with portions shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the frontv sled, portions being broken away. Fig. 4 is a cross section of the front sled taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, portions being shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section on the ine 55 of Fig. 1.

The present structure comprises a pair of bobsleds coupled together flexibly, the front sled being designated by the numeral 1, and the rear sled by the numeral 2. The'sleds,

generally speaking, are of practically duplicate construction, and each includes a pair of longitudinal siderunners 3 having their forward ends curved upwardly, as at 4. Each runner 3 is provided between its ends with a pair of longitudinally spaced upstanding lugs 5 and a 'con'caved seat 6 between said lugs. The runners are readily constructed from wood, and a wooden or equivalent rave or cap member 7"is seated upon the lugs 5 and is provided with a convexed portion 8. Arcuate metallic bearings 9 are seated in the seat 6 and convexed portion 8. A longitudinal rave bar 10, preferably of wood, has its forward end secured upon the forward end i of the runner and is seated upon the member 7,' a pair of vertical bolts 11 being engaged through suitable apertures provided in the runner 3 and its lugs 5, the member 7 and bar 10. The bolts 11 have hooks or heads 12 at their lower ends embedded in the lower edge of the runner, and nuts 13 are threaded upon the upper ends of said bolts 11 to clamp the runner, member 7 and bar 10 together. The nuts 13 are preferably set in recesses with which the bar 10 is provided. Each sled also includes a transverse bolster or beam 1 1, preferably constructed of wood, and provided at its ends with depending enlargements 15. Said enlargements 15' have outstanding vtrunnions 16 integral therewith and of relatively large diameter. Metallic journals 17 are secured upon the trunnions 16, and fit rotatably within the bearings 9. The journals 17 have flanges 18 overlapping the opposite sides of the bearings to hold the parts in assembled relation. Since.- the trunnions and their journals are of relatively large diameter, strength and durability are promoted. The bearings 9 are clamped in place between the runners and members 7, and the journals .17 in engaging the hearings will hold the bolster .14 and runners properly assembled. When the bolts 11 are loosened by removing the nuts 13, the bar 10 and member '7 can be removed in succession, so that the parts can be separated.

Disposed loosely between the forward ends of eachpair of runners is a transverse rocking tie member 19 within the bottom portion of which is embedded a rod 20 disposed transversely of the sled and longi-- tudinal'ly of the member 19. The ends of a said runners. Cotter pins 21 are engaged with the terminals of the rod 20 to prevent the separation of the forward ends of the runners, but the rod 20 can oscillate freely relatively to the runners. The inner sides of the runners 3 have recesses 25 at their forward ends receiving the ends of the member 19 loosely, whereby said member 19 can oscillate with the rod 20 relatively tothe runners, and this permits the two runners to oscillate independently of one another when traveling upon rough roads. The ends of the member 19 are embraced by bands 26, and a pair of bands 27 embrace the member 19 adjacent the intermediate portion thereof, said bands 26 and 27 serving to hold the rod 20 assembled withthe member 19, and the bands also strengthen said member 19.

The bolster 11 of each sled is connected to the intermediate portion of the respective member 19 by a pair of rearwardly diverging hounds 28 having their forward adjacent ends secured together, as at 29, and having their rear ends secured to the enlarged portions 15 of the bolster 14: by means of upper and lower strips 30. The strips 30 are secured to the upper and lower edges of the hounds 28 and the upper and lower portions of the enlargements 15. A connecting rod or stem 31 is engaged with the joint of the bounds 28 and projects forwardly there from. the forward end of said rod 31 having a loop or hook 32 engaging the rod 20 within a recess 32 with which the member 19 is provided between its ends. Thus, the hounds in connecting the member 19 and bolster 14-. will reinforce the Sled so that the strains are not apt to break any of they parts.

The forward sled 1 has attached thereto a tongue 33 to which the draft animals are hitched. and the rear end of said tongue 33 has a tenon 31 fitting within a mortise with which the member 19 of the front sled 1 is provided between the bands 27, said tongue and member 19 being attached together by straps 35 secured thereto. Braces 36 also connect the tongue 33 and member 19. A rearwardly projecting reach member 37 is secured upon the intermediate portion of the bolster 14 of the front sled, and is flexibly connected by a forwardly projecting reach member or stub tongue 38 attached to the rear sled. The rear end of the member 38 has a tenon 38 fitting within the mortise with which the member 19 of the rear sled is provided, and the members 38 and 19 are attached together by means of metallic straps 39 and braces 41. The adjacent ends of the members 37 and 38 are flexibly connected by means of interengaging U- shaped straps 10 straddling and attached to the said ends of said members. Thus, the two sleds can move in various directions relatively to one another, to provide for a wide range of flexibility between the sleds.

A transverse bolster or bunk 42 is pivotally mounted upon the plate or member 37 by means of a pivot bolt 43 engaged through the bunk 42, plate 37 and bolster 14 of the front' sled. Thus, the front sled can swing relatively to the bunk 12 which can remain substantially parallel with the transverse bunk or bolster -14 of the rear sled which is secured rigidly upon the respective bolster 14.

Not only are the two sleds flexibly connected, but each sled is of flexible coast-rut tion so that its runners can swing independent of one another when passing over obstructions or within depressions. The forward end of one runner can swing upwardly or downwardly independent of the compan ion runner, the ends of the member 19 being movable vertically with the runners. The member 19 prevents the separation of the forward ends of the runners, and also will prevent the forward ends of the runners from moving toward one another. The members 19 are connected loosely to the forward ends of the hounds 28, whereby said members 19 can oscillate about the rods 31 at centers, and the hounds serve to connect the. intermediate portions of the members 19 and the ends of the bolsters 14, whereby the strains to which the sleds are subjected will not break any of the parts. There is suitable freedom in movement of the runners, whereby the movement of one or more runners over an obstruction or within a depression will not disturb the equilibrum of the entire structure. and furthermore there is no undue wrenching of the parts. The members 19 can not only oscillate transversely about longitudinal axes, but can also oscillate about their transverse axes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A sled embodying a transverse bolster, a pair of runners journaled upon the ends of the bolster. a transverse tie member, between the forward ends of the runners, a rod embedded in said member and having its ends projecting and engaged loosely through the forward ends of the runners, bands embracing the tie member and holding the rod in place, a forwardly. projecting tongue attached to said member intermediate its ends, a pair of rearwardly diverging hounds having their forward adjacent ends secured to- 1,199,994 I v a gether and having their rear endsse cured In testimony that I- claim the foregoing iegjhe bolster adjacent its ends, said memas my own, I have hereto affixed my signa- Sr having a recess between its ends, and a ture in the presence of two witnesses;

forwardly projecting'rod attached tov the EDWARD LAMBERT. forward adjacent ends vof the hounds and Witnesses:

Having a portion engaging said rod within v IVY E. SIMPSON, iidrecess. i PHILOMEKA'A. RocKELLL 

